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Anyway i agree with Ridebird, if we get more than just 1-2 brand new people we should consider sticking them in their own squad with a couple of volunteers to herd them, but we should be careful not to exclude them, they should feel part of the operations.

Yeah fair point. I suppose it depends how many people will actually turn up!

We certainly have enough friendly and experienced people to SL the 'boot camp' squads, but it might not be so easy to turn those squads into a cohesive unit in one sitting. But, if we pull it off we could end up with a real nice influx of outfit members, which is great!

I can volunteer to SL either unit if we're desperate, however I probably won't be able to get on 'till 8pm on Thurs.

Not only support, but people with actual unlocks. A squad of BR1s has no reliable way of dealing with Sundies or air. You need to sprinkle people with C4/Mines and double Bursters in between them for them to not be a minor bump in the road the first Liberator/Vanguard they encounter turns into a puddle of blood in 2 shots.

I'm inclined to say that newbie platoon should follow Stratgir format (PL - > SL -> grunt, split comms etc) because A, that is what Jim is promoting and B: it's a lot easier to answer 11 people's questions than it is 47. It also means that the newbie squads can be ferried around in a bus together, and given their first taste of galaxy dropping somewhere useful.

I'm happy to do any role - so grunting for vets up to PL, including vet and newbie SL - with the slight provisio that I don't know as much about the game as some of our other experienced players.

Can we make an effort to get a fair few of us on early-ish, say about 5pm?

Also, I think a stratgir setup for new players is a good idea. 12 people in a channel makes asking questions easier. I'm tempted tio suggest we push for full strat night in all platoons, but that does mean SLs coming out of the woodwork.

However. We need to make sure we a) get a good mix of new and existing players in all squads and b) that is 'feels' like you are actually playing with the 80+ people I expect we'll have.

For b) can I suggest that PLs maybe chat-to-all platoon a bit mroe often and SLs be a little bit more verbose when explainign to squads not only what the objective is, but why (i.e: The platoon is doing X, we are helping here, in order to push TR this or that way, or to get a tech plant...)

As for a) we need some way of easily sorting players. I can't think of anything easy, but this is my initial suggestion.
We have one squad open to recruitment. I sit in it and say hi to new people who join. Get them sorted with the absolute basics (check Mumble ok, get them on the right continent, really really basic WG orientation) and then sort them out with a space in a strat squad. I'll ask a PL for a space, kick the player, and get the SL to send an invite. I can then check they got the invite and I can just move them myself in Mumble (I have move privileges over the PS2 channels)

As for comms in general, I propose we split platoons. PLs plus liason should be on one whisper loop. PLs plus their platoon SLs either on another whisper loop or via 4 hotkeys (as was the intended trial for tonight)?

Ok, I've doen some quick edits to this front post & Mumble.
Suggested format:
We create a second StratGir channel setup. PLs & SLs get in early and get comms sorted.

Only one (non-strat) platoon which is recruiting outfit members (me as PL). All StratGir platoons are closed. Invites to StratGir platoons sent by hand (annyoing, I know, but it will avoid confusion).

Everyone joins Mumble and joins "Platoon 1".

For new players:
I will stay in this channel, along with a few regular volunteers. New players will get an outfit invite and join the (non-Strat) platoon. In this platoon I will run basic exercises & orientation. Answer setup questions etc. A few volunteers to help here welcome. The idea will be to keep this pretty short and get players into Strat squads quickly.

For Regular players & new players moving to join Strat squads.
I will ask over outfit text-chat for an SL with a space. First SL to x-up will be asked to send an invite to the player looking to join a squad. After I have confirmed they have got the invite, I will move them in Mumble.

Whether we have a 'training' strat platoon or not we can play by ear. I would prefer just mixing everyone up. In anycase, I think we should be organising 12-person "strat" channels for the new players. That's what they've been told to expect, and it should help prompt people to ask questions and be less likely to be lost in the crowd.

To that end: Regular players: Please pay attention to newbies. There will only be 12 of you in a channel so you can tell who is new. Check they are ok, talk things through with them. Too often new players get drowned out by our large, busy channels. This is an opportunity to pay a more attention to make sure people don't bounce straight off.

Sounds like a good suggestion Cooper, though, is GU4 alive by tomorrow?

The platoon management click-drag thing would ensure the "right mix" of players in squads. Also, the VR suite could come in handy for your training/teaching thingy Cooper? Perhaps you could take them all in there for the first half an hour or something, then assign them into the StratGir Squads?

I'm unclear if we do indeed still need one, but i will volunteer for StratGir PL or (if we have one already) CO. I've already set up my own Sh-2-Sq mumble whispers. That setup would certainly increase the "tutoring experience" for new guys.

Also, keep an eye on the "views" tally for the thread that was linked in the article. It may well help us roughly guess how many people to expect.

I'm unsure as to which option is best:
Newbie Platoon + Veterinarian Platoon
or
Mixed Platoons

For option 1, it means that things for newbie squads can be run at a more relaxed pace, be taken off to do things that they'll enjoy, and generally be less overhelmed/hurried. StratGir really does demand quick responses and knowing roughly what you are expected to do (well, except last week's mess) and that's not so easy when some people are asking "What's a galaxy?" "Where are the satellites? In Space?" etc.

On the other hand, option 2 means that people get more benefit from experience of comrades, feels like we are putting up less of a barrier, and it's easier to pick up on what stratgir MEANS, if you see where I am going. Also, they might get rezzed more usefully, and have burster cover available.